Perth: The new undisputed leader of Australia's pace attack is not used to being treated as an understudy, especially given two days earlier he delivered the fastest recorded delivery in Test history. But with no chance of a result in the last session in Perth that was the treatment afforded to any bowler whose name was not Mitch Johnson.

Johnson bags two more as secondTest drawn

Mitchell Johnson wound back the clock, but his swansong finished in a predictable draw between Australia and New Zealand at the WACA.

The widespread lamenting of the preceding days, that Johnson's bowling lacked the venom for which he is renowned, was replaced by a collective will for the retiring veteran to give even a glimpse of why he will finish his career fourth in Australia's tally of Test wicket-takers. Every other bowler was just getting in the way of that.

Even with the buffer of a 300-plus lead Australia captain Steve Smith waited until 11 overs after lunch to declare. The delay showed he considered leaving the WACA Ground with a guaranteed lead in the series as paramount, even if it all but snuffed out his team's chances of victory in the match.

The loss of Smith (138) and Mitch Marsh (1) in the first nine overs of the day entrenched the home team's prioritising of survival. That was evident that straddling Marsh's dismissal they went 31 deliveries without scoring.

Marsh has demonstrated his ability to be a batsmen for when times are good, and looked decent in making 34 in the first innings, albeit with the benefit of arriving at 4-462. On Tuesday he arrived with no pressure to score. He was out leg-before when struck on the pad, which he got in the way of his bat. The precocious all-rounder is doing enough with the ball to keep his spot, but not by much.

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The Australians' reluctance to attack the New Zealand bowlers as they had in the first four days was not entirely due to their mindset. The pitch which had been so ideal for batting belatedly showed signs of deterioration, enough for Brendon McCullum to delay taking the second new ball because his seamers, particularly Doug Bracewell, were getting appreciable movement through the air and off cracks in the pitch with the old ball. This included Southee trapping Voges leg-before for 119.

Even with the new ball, taken nine overs after it could have been, the pitch was not as true as it had been. Mitch Johnson, in his final batting innings, was fortunate one Trent Boult delivery pitched outside his off-stump, as it when it struck a crack it slid through at ankle height to wicketkeeper B.J. Watling.

Mitchell Johnson waves to the crowd after the second Test ended in a draw. Photo: Getty Images

The Black Caps were a target of 321 from 48 overs, an allocation later reduced by a 71-minute rain delay. With the slim chance of a bold attempt to chase extinguished all eyes were on Johnson.

The crowd of 3142, which authorities hoped to swell by opening the gates at tea, had to wait until the seventh over for Johnson to be unleashed. He ensured he would depart with at least one wicket to his name in his final innings when a bouncer pulled by Tom Latham was well held at fine-leg by Josh Hazlewood.

Johnson is greeted by his wife, Jessica, and daughter, Rubika, after the match. Photo: Getty Images

The wicket that proved to be the 313th and final of Johnson career was one that would have pleased any hostile fast-bowler: remaining opener Martin Guptill fending a short ball off his gloves to short-leg, where Joe Burns overcame his jitters - and bruises - from his time in close to snare the low chance.

Johnson was on track to be handed the ball one final time, in the 25th over, when the match was officially halted - and ended - by the umpires, with New Zealand 2-104 with dominant first-innings duo Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at the crease.

"One more over, ya mugs!" yelled a wag from the members stand. It was to no avail - but judging by the smile on Johnson's face as he walked off for the final time the over he missed was of no lasting consequence in the context of a memorable decade-long international career.